Plasma Oxytocin Concentrations During and After Gestation in Japanese Pregnant Women Affected by Anxiety Disorder and Endometriosis

Toshio Masumoto, Kazunari Onishi, Tasuku Harada, Hiroki Amano, Shinji Otani, Youichi Kurozawa
Yonago acta medica · 2020 · vol. 63(4) , pp. 301–307 · doi:10.33160/yam.2020.11.012 · PMID:33253338 · PMC7683907 · W3097829641
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This study measured plasma oxytocin concentrations in pregnant women with and without a history of anxiety disorder and endometriosis, finding significantly lower levels in the cases during the second trimester and postpartum.

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This nested case-control study in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study measured plasma oxytocin concentrations during the first and second trimesters (T1, T2) and after childbirth (T3) in 162 Japanese pregnant women, comparing those with a medical history of anxiety disorder and/or endometriosis to women without such histories, while adjusting for age and parity. Oxytocin increased over time, and oxytocin at T1 showed weak negative correlations with maternal age and height but not with other assessed factors. Women with a history of anxiety disorder and endometriosis had significantly lower mean oxytocin concentrations at T2 and T3 than controls. The study is limited by its small case numbers and reports the need for further work to clarify molecular mechanisms. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it directly compares plasma oxytocin concentrations during and after pregnancy in women with a medical history of endometriosis.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Oxytocin has a key role in mother-infant bonding, maternal care, social interaction, and stress-related psychiatric disorders. However, the factors determining oxytocin concentrations during and after pregnancy such as medical history related to nursing or parental behavior are unknown. To elucidate these, we analyzed the relationships between oxytocin concentrations during and after pregnancy, and medical history assessed in the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS). METHODS: We then selected the pregnant women with a medical history of anxiety disorder and endometriosis as cases and pregnant women without medical history as controls adjusting the cohort for age and parity for a nested case-control study, after which 162 women remained for analysis. We evaluated 162 pregnant women from JECS using answers provided in a questionnaire and by measuring plasma oxytocin concentration by ELISA during the first (T1) and second (T2) trimesters of pregnancy, and after childbirth (T3). RESULTS: = 13) were significantly lower than those of pregnant women with no such history at T2 and T3. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that oxytocin concentrations during and after pregnancy were affected by a past history of anxiety disorder and endometriosis. This is the first study of the relationship between oxytocin concentration and endometriosis. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms, further study is needed.
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Abstract

Background Oxytocin has a key role in mother-infant bonding, maternal care, social interaction, and stress-related psychiatric disorders. However, the factors determining oxytocin concentrations during and after pregnancy such as medical history related to nursing or parental behavior are unknown. To elucidate these, we analyzed the relationships between oxytocin concentrations during and after pregnancy, and medical history assessed in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS).

Methods

We then selected the pregnant women with a medical history of anxiety disorder and endometriosis as cases and pregnant women without medical history as controls adjusting the cohort for age and parity for a nested case-control study, after which 162 women remained for analysis. We evaluated 162 pregnant women from JECS using answers provided in a questionnaire and by measuring plasma oxytocin concentration by ELISA during the first (T1) and second (T2) trimesters of pregnancy, and after childbirth (T3).

Results

Oxytocin concentration increased in a time dependent manner, consistent with previous reports. There were weak negative correlations between oxytocin concentration at T1 and the mother’s age and height, but no correlation with other factors. The mean oxytocin concentrations of pregnant women with a history of an anxiety disorder (n = 7) and endometriosis (n = 13) were significantly lower than those of pregnant women with no such history at T2 and T3.

Conclusion

These results suggest that oxytocin concentrations during and after pregnancy were affected by a past history of anxiety disorder and endometriosis. This is the first study of the relationship between oxytocin concentration and endometriosis. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms, further study is needed. © 2020 Tottori University Medical Press Favorites & Alerts Recently viewed articles

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endometriosis

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